-----Original Message----- From: H-Net Discussion List on Maryland History and Culture [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mary Beth Corrigan Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 7:37 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Welcome to Baltimore Sign
From: James Stimpert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 8:42 AM It does not now say "hon," nor did it ever say "hon" officially. What you refer to was one individual who operated a "one-man crusade" to get the official greeting changed to "Welcome to Baltimore Hon." To that end, he surreptitiously stapled on a white cardboard sign with the word "Hon" after the word "Baltimore." State Highway workers would then remove the stapled addition as soon as they found it. This went on for weeks, garnering much publicity and the unknown "Hon man" (as he was called) was persistent in his efforts in tacking on his cardboard signs. Most of those concerned realized that this wasn't exactly a weighty issue, but they couldn't allow a precedent to be set. Finally, they set up a stakeout and the State Police caught the guy "red-handed." I think he was charged with a minor misdemeanor but I don't think he was prosecuted. I seem to recall that he agreed to give up his sign posting efforts (perhaps he was promised a more serious charge if he was caught again). I still look at that sign when I pass northbound on 295 and think about that "tempest in a teapot." Perhaps most surprisingly, after all of the publicity, no one else picked up the cause. For photos, you could look at the old newspaper articles from the time. I know at least a couple of photographers recorded the signs before they were removed. BTW, just to clarify, the road isn't Interstate 295. It's State Route 295, also known as the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, or the Gladys Noon Spellman Parkway. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= James Stimpert Archivist (Arts and Sciences) E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] MSE Library Johns Hopkins University Voice: (410) 516-8323 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 Fax: (410) 516-7202 _______________________________________________ Chat mailing list Chat@charlesvillage.info http://charlesvillage.info/mailman/listinfo/chat_charlesvillage.info